In the past decade, gender-based violence and discrimination against women journalists has increased rampantly. In varying countries, many female journalists have reported online violence, attacks and sexual assault. A study done in 2020 by the International Center for Journalists found that more than 70% of female journalists globally have experienced violence during their time in the profession.
Discrimination in the U.S.
President Donald Trump has targeted a plethora of female journalists and reporters. He has insulted various journalists, called them names, and questioned their credentials during press briefings. This is in retaliation against them asking important questions, regarding controversial topics like the Epstein files and the Military interventions in Venezuela.
In interviews in the Oval Office or on social media, Trump has been blasting female reporters from mostly left-wing media outlets. He was calling them names and criticizing their work. In regards to the deadly military airstrike on a boat in Venezuela, Trump promised earlier this week to comment on the incident. However, when asked about it by ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott, The President lashed out, calling Scott a “terrible reporter,” and claiming that ABC was “fake news,” according to CNN.
“Let me just tell you, you are an obnoxious—a terrible, actually a terrible reporter and it is always the same thing with you. I told you, whatever Pete Hegseth wants to do is okay with me,” Trump said in a video on CNN.
Another instance of Trump attacking female reporters occurred on Thanksgiving this year. CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Nancy Cordes asked The President about the state of an Afghan refugee that had entered the U.S.. In response to this question, Trump repeatedly called Cordes stupid.
“Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person? Because they came into on a plane along with thousands of other people that should not be here, and you are just asking questions because you are a stupid person,” Trump said during a press availability, according to PBS.
Global Attacks
Along with verbal ridicule, violent attacks have targeted many female reporters while reporting, like Lara Logan. Logan is a South African journalist who widely covered for various news outlets such as Columbia Broadcasting System, (CBS), and Fox News. Her career gained traction and attention from the outside world after her attack in Egypt. In February 2011, Logan was covering a story in Egypt regarding resident Hosni Mubarak’s retirement.
Logan and her cameraman were reporting from Tahrir Square, which is located in downtown Cairo, Egypt. It is known as the location of many political protests. In the midst of the crowd, the mob surrounded her and separated her from her crew. A crowd of about 300 men assaulted, raped and beat Logan while separated by her bodyguard. After the attacks, Logan went back to the United States and spent four days in the hospital.
“There was no doubt in my mind that I was in the process of dying. I thought, ‘Not only am I going to die, but it is going to be just a torturous death that is going to go on forever,'” Logan said in an interview on 60 Minutes.
Set Back in Journalism
Another incident that happened in early 2024 was the death of Victoria Roshchyna. Prior to her death, Roshchyna was already a renowned journalist, with awards such as the 2022 Courage in Journalism Award. Roshchyna was a Ukrainian journalist, who disappeared in a Russia-occupied part of Ukraine in 2023. Before her death, her parents reported receiving a call from their daughter, while in a Russian prison. They received a call a month after Roshchyna’s death as well.
An investigation by Ukrainian media found that Roshchyna had been tortured while in captivity for months leading up to her death. Even by means as far as electrocution. The media widely acclaimed her death. Her cause of death was unknown, due to the fact she was missing multiple organs, such as her brain, eyes and larynx.
Including these women, violence against female journalists has gone up exponentially. These attacks have been connected to attempting to silence women’s voices in the media. They are done through violence and discrimination. Such as imprisoning, assaulting, torturing and killing these women. It lowers the chance of young women wanting to partake in journalism globally. These risks targeting women are attempting to roll back women’s rights.
